Nina Caldwell
The Gulf of Mexico, a partially landlocked body of water in the Atlantic Ocean, has been renamed the Gulf of America by the United States government. This change has sparked controversy and raised questions about the ownership of the gulf, which borders the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. While the US has territorial rights over portions of the Gulf, it is not the sole owner, and the name change has been met with opposition from Mexico and some media organizations. This incident highlights the geopolitical complexities surrounding the gulf and the potential for further disputes between the bordering nations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of America |
| Location | Southeastern periphery of the North American continent |
| Bordered by | United States, Mexico, Cuba |
| Size | 1,600,000 square kilometres (620,000 square miles) |
| Depth | 5,203 meters (17,070 feet) at its deepest point |
| Formation | Plate tectonics |
| Age | 300 million years old |
| Geology | Sedimentary rocks and recent sediments |
| Connection to Atlantic Ocean | Straits of Florida |
| Connection to Caribbean Sea | Yucatán Channel |
| Tidal Range | Very small |
| Natural Resources | Petroleum, natural gas, sulfur, calcium carbonate |
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What You'll Learn
The Gulf of Mexico's name change to the Gulf of America
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked body of water on the southeastern periphery of the North American continent. It is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Straits of Florida, which runs between the peninsula of Florida and the island of Cuba. The Gulf of Mexico basin is roughly oval and is about 810 nautical miles (1,500 kilometers; 930 miles) wide. It is bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States; on the southwest and south by the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo; and on the southeast by Cuba. The Gulf took shape about 300 million years ago due to plate tectonics.
In February 2025, the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), a US government database, updated the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. This change was made in accordance with President Donald Trump's executive order to "restore names that honor American Greatness". Trump issued this order on his first day in office, proclaiming February 9 as "Gulf of America Day".
Following the update, Google Maps and Apple Maps changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America for users in the US. People using the apps in Mexico will continue to see "Gulf of Mexico", while users elsewhere will see both names. Google stated that the change was made as part of their longstanding practice of following name changes when updated by official government sources.
The name change has sparked controversy, with Mexico refusing to recognize the new name. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo has written a letter to Google asking the company to reverse the change. The Associated Press, a global media organization, has also stated that it will continue to refer to the body of water as the Gulf of Mexico in its style guide, which is used by most US media outlets.
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The Gulf's geological history
The Gulf of Mexico is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located at the southern end of North America. It is bordered by the United States to the north, five Mexican states to the west, and the island of Cuba to the southeast. The Gulf took shape about 300 million years ago as a result of plate tectonics and rifting within North America as the supercontinent Pangea began to break up.
Before the late Triassic, the Gulf of Mexico did not exist, and the area consisted of dry land, including continental crust that now underlies Yucatán, within Pangaea. This land lay south of a continuous mountain range that extended from north-central Mexico to Alabama, linking directly to the Appalachian Mountains. The rifting that created the basin was associated with zones of weakness within Pangaea, including the collision of the Laurentia, South American, and African plates.
The Gulf of Mexico basin is roughly oval and covers an area of about 1.6 million square kilometers. The basin is characterized by a stable geologic province, with the persistent subsidence of its central part, initially due to thermal cooling and later to sediment loading. The floor of the Gulf consists of sedimentary rocks and recent sediments, with sediment thicknesses exceeding 12-14 kilometers in the central region. The formation of large accumulations of flat-lying carbonates has been a significant feature of the geologic history of the Gulf.
The most notable geologic features in the Gulf of Mexico include the Sigsbee Escarpment, a steep slope in the north-central part of the basin, and the West Florida Escarpment, a steep limestone cliff that forms the western edge of the Florida peninsula. The Mississippi Canyon, formed approximately 30,000 years ago, is another significant feature, serving as a transport pathway for sediment from the Mississippi River. The Gulf is also known for its salt domes, created by the migration of salt diapirs, which uplift sediment into hills and mounds. These salt diapirs have important implications for hydrocarbon migration and the formation of cold seeps.
The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most critical offshore petroleum production regions globally, contributing significantly to the United States' total production. The modern landscape of the Gulf Coast continues to be influenced by fluvial depositional systems, such as the Mississippi River and the Rio Grande, which transport vast amounts of sediment into the Gulf.
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The Gulf's bordering countries
The Gulf of Mexico is bordered by Mexico, the United States, and Cuba. The Mexican states that border the Gulf are Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo. The US states that border the Gulf are Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, and this region is often referred to as the "Third Coast" or the "Gulf Coast".
In February 2025, the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), a US government database, updated the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America". This change was reflected on Google Maps and Apple Maps for users in the US, while users in Mexico continue to see the original name. This move was criticised by Mexico, which argued that the US had no legal right to change the Gulf's name.
In addition to the Gulf of Mexico, there are several other gulfs around the world that border multiple countries. For example, the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean borders multiple countries in West Africa, including Nigeria and Cameroon. The Gulf of Aden is located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen and Somalia, and connects to the Red Sea through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. The Persian Gulf borders eight countries, including Iran, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq.
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The Gulf's economic importance
The Gulf of Mexico is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean. It is of great economic importance, particularly to the United States. Here are some key aspects of its economic significance:
Oil and Gas Production
The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most important offshore petroleum production regions in the world, accounting for about 14% of the United States' total production. The shallow continental shelf regions of the Gulf contain large deposits of petroleum and natural gas, which have been extensively developed since the 1940s. These deposits provide a substantial proportion of domestic energy needs in the United States. The infrastructure for oil and gas production in the Gulf is highly developed and includes refineries, processing plants, supply bases, and pipeline yards.
Commercial Fishing
Commercial fishing is another major economic activity in the Gulf of Mexico. It supplies roughly one-fifth of the total seafood catch in the United States. Species such as shrimp, flounder, red snapper, mullet, oysters, and crabs are of significant commercial value. In 1992, the commercial fishing industry in the Gulf harvested 1.4 billion pounds of seafood products, valued at $652 million.
Tourism and Recreation
The Gulf Coast has become a popular tourist destination, particularly during the winter months. Tourism has developed significantly since World War II and is now a major component of the regional economy. Marine sport fishing is an important aspect of tourism, providing jobs and recreational activities for coastal communities and tourists. Other popular recreational activities in the Gulf include boating, swimming, and scuba diving.
Shipping and Trade
The Gulf of Mexico is also significant for shipping and trade. Major shipping lanes and protected waterways, such as the Intracoastal Waterway, facilitate waterborne commerce. This generates economic impact through the import and export of goods and the development of maritime port facilities.
Other Industries
In addition to the above, the Gulf of Mexico also supports other industries. For example, oyster shells are obtained from the shallow waters of the Texas Gulf Coastal Plain and are used in various applications. Additionally, the Gulf's unique ecological characteristics, such as its diverse marine life and barrier beaches, have made it a hub for marine research, with major research centers located in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.
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The Gulf's weather influence
The Gulf of Mexico is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean. It is bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, and on the southwest and south by Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most important offshore petroleum production regions in the world, accounting for 14% of the United States' total production.
The Gulf of Mexico also influences weather across the United States, including severe weather in Tornado Alley. The Gulf Stream, an ocean current that is part of the larger Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), carries warm water from the Gulf of Mexico up the eastern coast of the United States and Canada and on to western Europe. This current influences the climate of the east coast of Florida, keeping temperatures warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer compared to other southeastern states. The Gulf Stream also helps to warm western European countries, playing a major role in the regional climate.
The Gulf Stream is a powerful ocean current that brings warmer waters from the Gulf of Mexico into the North Atlantic Ocean. It is caused by a large system of circular currents and powerful winds, known as an oceanic gyre. There are five oceanic gyres on Earth, and the Gulf Stream is part of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. The Gulf Stream does not flow in a straight line but is much more complex, with strong dynamics across the North Atlantic. It is full of smaller swirls of both warm and cold water, similar to the jet stream found in the atmosphere.
The Gulf Stream is not the only ocean current that influences global weather patterns. The Japan Current (Kuroshio) is another notable example that exhibits similar behaviour. Understanding these ocean currents and their behaviour is crucial for predicting future weather patterns and their influence on the winter climate, especially in regions heavily influenced by the Gulf Stream, such as the United States, Canada, and Europe.
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Frequently asked questions
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located on the southeastern periphery of the North American continent. It is bordered by the United States, Cuba, and Mexico.
The Gulf of Mexico has officially changed its name to the "Gulf of America" for Google Maps users based in the United States. This change was made following President Donald Trump's executive order to "restore names that honor American Greatness".
The Gulf of Mexico has an average depth of 5,300 ft, with its deepest point, Sigsbee Deep, reaching 17,070 ft (5,203 m) below sea level.
